Chinese Real-Estate Merchants Are Tapping Into the Cryptocurrency Market

Property Investors from Wenzhou, Zhejing Province, which has a reputation as the home of China’s savviest businessmen, are dabbling in the cryptocurrency market for new investment opportunities. Instead of holding Bitcoin, their focus is on forked coins.

“Bitcoin Will Evolve into a Capital Game”

In 2008, a Wenzhou merchant surnamed Chen set up a real-estate speculation squad with twenty of his friends. They bought houses on the same street, negotiated on the sale price, and went to the same agent to sell houses. If anybody sold at a lower price, Chen would kick him out of the squad. Now as housing prices decline month-over-month due to the central government’s tightened property policy, Chen has sold off his houses and used the profits to invest cryptocurrencies.

He started with Bitcoin, but only focuses on forked coins. “Bitcoin will evolve into a capital game for rich bankers and financiers,” Chen explained. “I don’t have enough capital to compete with them, but the bitcoin price will keep rising and simultaneously the price of forked coins will increase.” He learned the concept of a fork when he realized he had received some free Bitcoin Cash in his account this August.

Bitcoin users usually get free forked coins at a rate of 1:1 like BCH and BTG, but some forked coins are distributed at a rate of 1:10 like BCD, even 1:10000 like Bitcoin X. Chen believes that this is the most direct way for forked coins to attract users. Normally, when a new coin is created, it is hard for it to gain brand recognition. These forked coins, however, don’t have to work their way up like other coins did, because they have the same userbase as Bitcoin.

Are Forked Coins Sustainable?

“Forked coins were worthless at first, but as trading volumes soars, price rises and falls, they are attracting more attention,” said Chen. Over the past three months, he has first invested in Bitcoin Cash (BCH), then Bitcoin Gold (BTG) and now Bitcoin Diamond (BCD). He bought BCH when the price was 2000 rmb ($300) and sold out when it hit 19000 rmb ($2800). He is looking for the next BCH.

Chen believes that four factors matter most for a forked coin to sustain.

First, the team. Who is behind the project? Do they have the ability to develop? Second, the price. If the price is already too high, then there is no room to rise further. Third, the user base. Is it listed on multiple exchanges? A coin must go global to rein in political risks. Fourth, patience. Forked coins will gain more traction, but it takes time.

Chen is now inviting public figures and big whales to join his crypto squad. He sees his squad as a small venture capital fund. As long as a project initiator has resources and welcomes small investment, he would get involved.

His investment portfolio is 10% BTC, 40-50% forked coins and 10% ICO tokens. He explained that his investment philosophy is to invest in the unknowns. “The world is changing so fast, it’s easy to miss an opportunity before you realize it. Keep an eye on what you don’t understand and that’s where opportunities lie.”

Do you see great potential in forked coins? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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